Track & Field Athletes Prepare to Host New Haven Run4Africa 5K on Saturday, May 2

Apr 29, 2009

April 29, 2009

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -
This Saturday, May 2, members of the Yale Track & Field team will use their weekend off from competition to host a race of their own: the New Haven Run4Africa 5K road race. With the help of the Yale Athletics Department, the team has organized this event in order to raise support for the charity Shoe4Africa. All proceeds from the race will benefit Shoe4Africa, and a shoe drive is being held to collect new and used running shoes for Shoe4Africa's projects. The race begins and ends outside of the Yale Bowl, and will start at 11:00 a.m.

Shoe4Africa (www.shoe4africa.org) uses athletics on a community level to support widespread initiatives in education and health, with an emphasis of HIV/AIDS awareness. As part of these initiatives, Shoe4Africa collects new and used athletic shoes and distributes them in Africa at the popular Shoe4Africa community road races. In conjunction with the Run4Africa 5K, shoes will be collected in boxes around Yale's campus, including the lobby of Payne Whitney Gym. Shoes will also be collected at the race itself.

The 5K (~3.1mi) is open to all ages and abilities--from competitive runners, to those who wish to walk the course. All participants receive a free race t-shirt and entry into a raffle prize drawing. There are also prizes for the overall winners (male and female) of the race.

Buses will be available to transport competitors to the Yale Bowl from Payne Whitney Gym on race-day, and will be leaving every 15 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m.

Those interested in participating are still able to register. Online registration on www.Active.com is open until Apr. 30. In-person registration will be available in the Payne Whitney Gym lobby from 4:30-6:30 p.m. the day before the race (Friday, May 1), or at the race starting-area between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on race-day (cash only).